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Alsace, lying between the Rhine River and the Vosges Mountains in eastern France is one of Europe’s top spots for a leisure cycling holiday. The fertile valley is a treasure trove of idyllic medieval villages, set amid a sea of vineyards and connected by a network of quiet lanes. The food, the wine and the scenery are all sublime.
The tour leads you on a gentle loop from Strasbourg, a beautiful city with an enchanting, medieval core, through some of the most beautiful Alsatian wine villages. Gourmet and wine connoisseurs will be in their element as this is a region renowned for the quality of its food and drink.
Colmar
Only 190 kms long and 50 kms wide, Alsace is the smallest region in France but within its borders it manages to pack over a hundred enchanting villages, characterised by rows of colourfully painted, half-timbered houses and winding cobbled streets. No less than four of the villages you will visit have made it on to the list of The Most Beautiful Villages in France – Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Hunawihr and Mittelbergheim.
The cycling is leisurely and you’ll be averaging about 28 miles/ 45 kms per day. The first three days are pretty level and then as you head north along the base of the Vosges you will encounter a few hills. These are mercifully short however and you can always take a break or get off and walk for a bit. It’s worth noting we also offer electric bikes to rent on this tour.
Make your way to your hotel in Strasbourg and check-in. The rest of the day is yours to explore this wonderful old city. The beautifully preserved centre is perfect for exploring on foot and must-sees include the imposing Notre Dame Cathedral with its intricate and mesmerising astronomical clock, the baroque style Opera House and Petite France. The latter is a picturesque area between the two rivers, crammed with half-timbered houses and narrow cobbled streets. In the evening we recommend preparing yourself for the following day’s exertions with a plate of Sauerkraut and sausages accompanied by a glass of fortifying Alsace beer.
After breakfast you mount-up and bid Strasbourg au-revoir, cycling out of town beside the Rhone-Rhine Canal. A pleasant canal-side cycle path leads you through picturesque countryside deep into the Grand Ried. The Grand Ried is a low-lying region of meadows and woodlands that were prone to flooding before the Rhine River was finally tamed and canalised. The sediment from the river created a fertile landscape, rich in flora/fauna and cycling through it is a real pleasure. Your day ends in the town of Seléstat or in one its pleasant surrounding villages.
Your journey continues south today through the Grand Ried. The level landscape and quiet lanes make for easy cycling, allowing you to relax and enjoy the rural countryside as it drifts by. Small, well-kept villages appear at regular intervals providing plenty of opportunities for coffee/food breaks. Your destination today is Colmar, the main wine town of Alsace and a beautiful place to spend the night. Along the narrow streets of the old town around the Cathedral you’ll find plenty of charming, independent cafes, bars and restaurants serving Alsatian specialities. Here you’ll also find Maison Pfister, an elaborately painted and very photogenic 16th century residence.
A relatively short day’s cycling today, but what the route lacks in distance it makes up for in scenery. You’ll cycle south on level terrain through a succession of picture perfect Alsatian wine villages set amongst extensive vineyards. There’s plenty of time to explore the narrow, winding streets of these pretty little places before making your way to the town of Guebwiller, or nearby at the foot of the Vosges Mountains.
Today you turn north and follow the wine road along the base of the Vosges Mountains. The route is undulating and probably the toughest day of the tour but the scenery is serene and peaceful so stop for a break whenever you like. There are more gorgeous Alsatian villages on the route today and Eguisheim; voted France’s Favourite Village in 2013, could well win your vote as the prettiest of them all. Wrapped around itself protectively, the colourful houses guard the maze-like streets within. You’ll also enjoy exploring the picture-perfect villages of Turckheim and Kaysersberg before stopping for the night in or near the delightful Alsatian wine village of Riquewihr.
Today you keep following the wine road north through a sublime landscape of idyllic vineyards and quaint villages. There’s a beautiful village every 2 kms or so, and the hard bit is deciding which ones to cycle straight through and which ones to stop and explore further. Our personal recommendations are Hunawihr, Andlau and Mittelbergheim. Tonight you will stay in or near the town of Obernai and as you would expect this is another beautiful old place with cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and a charming town square.
Your last day’s cycling completes the circle back to the historic city of Strasbourg. You’ll pedal along country lanes through the village of Rosheim and the town of Molsheim to the Bruche Canal. You then enjoy a very pleasant and easy ride along the canal-side cycle path back to Strasbourg. The rest of day and evening is yours to relax and enjoy this charming old city. Why not celebrate your achievement with a lovely meal in one of old town’s many fine restaurants.
After breakfast it’s time to checkout and head for home or your next adventure.
On this tour you can choose between a regular bike or an E-bike.
Regular bike: Is an alloy framed model with 21 speeds and a comfortable, relaxed riding position, perfect for a leisure cycling holiday. Minimum height for bike is 150cm. The minimum height for a male specific bike is 165cm. The bike comes equipped with a pannier and handlebar bag. Per room a lock and repair kit are provided.
E-BIKES: These unisex/step through electric bikes are a popular option on this route and ensure riders can enjoy the scenery along the way, whilst not working too hard at the climbs. Minimum height is 155cm. E-bikes come equipped with a pannier and handlebar bag. Per room a lock and repair kit are provided.
Helmets are not supplied, so you will need to bring your own.
Below you will find examples of the types of accommodation typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.
Comfort: Good quality 3 star hotels.
Strasbourg: Grand Hotel
Sélestat Area: Vaillant Hotel
Colmar: Hotel Paul & Pia
Guebwiller: Hotel L' Ange
Riquewihr Area: La Couronne
Obernai Area: Le Gouverneur
Superior: Good quality 3 and 4 star hotels.
Strasbourg: B.W. Monopole Metropole
Colmar: Grand Hotel Bristol
Guebwiller: Les Rives
Ribeauville Area: KLE
Obernai Area: Le Colombier
Superior Plus: Excellent 4 and 5 star hotels
Strasbourg: Régent Petite France
Sélestat Area: Auberge de l’Illwald
Colamar: Les Têtes
Guebwiller: Les Violettes
Riquewihr Area: KLE
Obernai Area: Cour d'Alsace
Local taxes
Some hotels have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €1-€4 per person per night
Fly to Strasbourg or Basel. There are regular, direct trains between Basel and Strasbourg, the journey time is 1 hour and 20 mins.
Research flights from the UK here
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